Vitebsk Distillery invested Br1.4 billion in production development in January-April.

May 22, Vitebsk / Olga Bogacheva - BELTA /. RUP "Vitebsk Distillery" invested Br1.4 billion in production development in January-April this year, with an annual plan of Br1.7 billion, the enterprise informed a BELTA correspondent. The funds were directed to the construction of a new grain storage facility with a capacity of 5 thousand tons of grain per year. Its commissioning is scheduled for July. Thus, together with the existing grain storage facility with a volume of almost 7 thousand tons, the enterprise will be able to meet its needs for storage space, abandon rental services, and independently carry out primary grain processing. In addition, the distillery has begun preparatory work for the introduction of soft grain cooking technology in the production of rectified spirit at its branch, the Bogushevsk Distillery. The implementation of the project will improve product quality and reduce energy costs by 20%, specialists noted. The head enterprise has begun the second phase of the project for organizing cognac production, which involves mastering the production of cognac from cognac spirits and expanding its range. Currently, the enterprise only bottles this beverage, the distillery clarified. In the near future, it is planned to implement a number of other projects related to expanding the range of non-alcoholic products and modernizing production, the distillery added. In 2008, investments in production development amounted to Br5.9 billion. In January-April 2009, the enterprise produced products worth Br16.7 billion, which is 16.2% more than in the same period last year. The profitability of sales was 19.5%. Alcoholic products worth over $100 thousand were exported. Vitebsk Distillery was founded in 1898. The range of alcoholic products manufactured includes more than 40 items. The average number of employees is over 470 people. -0-